Central Division (NBA)
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Inaugural season | 1970–71 season |
| Teams | |
| No. of teams | |
| Championships | |
| Most recent champion(s) | (4th title) |
| Most Central Division titles | (9 titles) |
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. All teams, except the Cavaliers, are former Midwest Division teams, hence the Central Division now largely resembling the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. The league realigned itself into two conferences, the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, with two divisions each in each conference. The Central Division began with four inaugural members, the Atlanta Hawks, the Baltimore Bullets, the Cincinnati Royals and the Cleveland Cavaliers.[1] The Hawks joined from the Western Division, while the Bullets and the Royals joined from the Eastern Division.
The Pistons have won the most Central Division titles with nine. The Bulls have won the second most titles with eight. Ten NBA champions came from the Central Division. The Bulls won six championships, the Pistons won three championships and the Bullets won one championship. All of them, except the 1977–78 Bullets and the 2003–04 Pistons, were division champions. In the 2005–06 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. The most recent division champion is the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Central Division existed for one season in the 1949–50 season as one of the three divisions in the NBA, along with the Western and the Eastern Division. On the other hand, the current Central Division that was formed in the 1970, is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference, the successor of the Eastern Division.
Contents
Standings
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| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c – Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 0.0 | 33–8 | 24–17 | 8–8 | 82 |
| x – Indiana Pacers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12.0 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 8–8 | 82 |
| x – Detroit Pistons | 44 | 38 | .537 | 13.0 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 10–6 | 82 |
| Chicago Bulls | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15.0 | 26–15 | 16–25 | 10–6 | 82 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 24.0 | 23–18 | 10–31 | 4–12 | 82 |
Notes
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
Teams
- Notes
denotes an expansion team.
Former teams
- Notes
- denotes an expansion team.
denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).- * The Charlotte NBA franchise was inactive from 2002 to 2004 upon the relocation of the Hornets to New Orleans. A new franchise, initially known as the Bobcats, began play in the 2004–05 season. In 2013, the Hornets were renamed the Pelicans, and the following season, the Bobcats were renamed the Hornets, acquiring the history and records of the 1988–2002 Hornets while retroactively designating the Pelicans as an expansion team.
Team timeline
| Denotes team that currently in the division | |
| Denotes team that has left the division |
Division champions
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Titles by team
| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons | 9 | 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 |
| Chicago Bulls | 8 | 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2010–11, 2011–12 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 7 | 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 2000–01 |
| Indiana Pacers | 6 | 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2012–13, 2013–14 |
| Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards) | 5 | 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 4 | 1975–76, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15 |
| Atlanta Hawks^ | 3 | 1979–80, 1986–87, 1993–94 |
| San Antonio Spurs^ | 2 | 1977–78, 1978–79 |
| Houston Rockets^ | 1 | 1976–77 |
Season results
| ^ | Denotes team that won the NBA championships |
| + | Denotes team that won the Conference Finals, but lost the NBA Finals |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
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| 1970–71 | Baltimore+ (42–40) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (33–49) | Cleveland (15–67) | — | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore* (38–44) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (30–52) | Cleveland (23–59) | — | — | — | — |
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| 1972–73 | Baltimore* (52–30) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Houston (33–49) | Cleveland (32–50) | — | — | — | — |
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| 1973–74 | Capital* (47–35) | Atlanta (35–47) | Houston (32–50) | Cleveland (29–53) | — | — | — | — |
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| 1974–75 | Washington+ (60–22) | Houston* (41–41) | Cleveland (40–42) | Atlanta (31–51) | New Orleans (23–59) | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Cleveland* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | Houston (40–42) | New Orleans (38–44) | Atlanta (29–53) | — | — | — |
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| 1976–77 | Houston* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | San Antonio* (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | New Orleans (35–47) | Atlanta (31–51) | — | — |
| 1977–78 | San Antonio* (52–30) | Washington^ (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (41–41) | New Orleans (39–43) | Houston (28–54) | — | — |
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| 1978–79 | San Antonio* (48–34) | Houston* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (30–52) | New Orleans (26–56) | — | — |
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| 1979–80 | Atlanta* (50–32) | Houston* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Indiana (37–45) | Cleveland (37–45) | Detroit (16–66) | — | — |
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| 1980–81 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Chicago* (45–37) | Indiana* (44–38) | Atlanta (31–51) | Cleveland (28–54) | Detroit (21–61) | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee* (55–27) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Detroit (39–43) | Indiana (35–47) | Chicago (34–48) | Cleveland (15–67) | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Detroit (37–45) | Chicago (28–54) | Cleveland (23–59) | Indiana (20–62) | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Detroit* (49–33) | Atlanta* (40–42) | Cleveland (28–54) | Chicago (27–55) | Indiana (26–56) | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee* (59–23) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (38–44) | Cleveland* (36–46) | Atlanta (34–48) | Indiana (22–60) | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee* (57–25) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (30–52) | Cleveland (29–53) | Indiana (26–56) | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Detroit* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (40–42) | Cleveland (31–51) | — | — |
| 1987–88 | Detroit+ (54–28) | Chicago* (50–32) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Indiana (38–44) | — | — |
| 1988–89 | Detroit^ (63–19) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Atlanta* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana (28–54) | — | — |
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| 1989–90 | Detroit^ (59–23) | Chicago* (55–27) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Indiana* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Atlanta (41–41) | Orlando (18–64) | — |
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| 1990–91 | Chicago^ (61–21) | Detroit* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (48–34) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Cleveland (33–49) | Charlotte (26–56) | — |
| 1991–92 | Chicago^ (67–15) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Detroit* (48–34) | Indiana* (40–42) | Atlanta (38–44) | Milwaukee (31–51) | Charlotte (31–51) | — |
| 1992–93 | Chicago^ (57–25) | Cleveland* (54–28) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (40–42) | Milwaukee (28–54) | — |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Chicago* (55–27) | Indiana* (47–35) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (20–62) | Detroit (20–62) | — |
| 1994–95 | Indiana* (52–30) | Charlotte* (50–32) | Chicago* (47–35) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Milwaukee (34–48) | Detroit (28–54) | — |
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| 1995–96 | Chicago^ (72–10) | Indiana* (52–30) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit* (46–36) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (25–57) | Toronto (21–61) |
| 1996–97 | Chicago^ (69–13) | Atlanta* (56–26) | Detroit* (54–28) | Charlotte* (54–28) | Cleveland (42–40) | Indiana (39–43) | Milwaukee (33–49) | Toronto (30–52) |
| 1997–98 | Chicago^ (62–20) | Indiana* (58–24) | Charlotte* (51–31) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Detroit (37–45) | Milwaukee (36–46) | Toronto (16–66) |
| 1998–99[a] | Indiana* (33–17) | Atlanta* (31–19) | Detroit* (29–21) | Milwaukee* (28–22) | Charlotte (26–24) | Toronto (23–27) | Cleveland (22–28) | Chicago (13–37) |
| 1999–00 | Indiana+ (56–26) | Charlotte* (49–33) | Toronto* (45–37) | Detroit* (42–40) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland (32–50) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (17–65) |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee* (52–30) | Toronto* (47–35) | Charlotte* (46–36) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (32–50) | Cleveland (30–52) | Atlanta (25–57) | Chicago (15–67) |
| 2001–02 | Detroit* (50–32) | Atlanta* (47–35) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Indiana* (42–40) | Toronto* (42-40) | Milwaukee (41–41) | Cleveland (29–53) | Chicago (21–61) |
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| 2002–03 | Detroit* (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | New Orleans* (47–35) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Atlanta (35–47) | Chicago (30–52) | Toronto (24–58) | Cleveland (17–65) |
| 2003–04 | Indiana* (61–21) | Detroit^ (54–28) | New Orleans* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Cleveland (35–47) | Toronto (33–49) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (23–59) |
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| 2004–05 | Detroit+ (54–28) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana* (44–38) | Cleveland (42–40) | Milwaukee (30–52) | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Detroit* (64–18) | Cleveland* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (40–42) | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Detroit* (53–29) | Cleveland+ (50–32) | Chicago* (49–33) | Indiana (35–47) | Milwaukee (28–54) | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Detroit* (59–23) | Cleveland* (45–37) | Indiana (36–46) | Chicago (33–49) | Milwaukee (26–56) | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Cleveland* (66–16) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit* (39–43) | Indiana (36–46) | Milwaukee (34–48) | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland* (61–21) | Milwaukee* (46–36) | Chicago* (41–41) | Indiana (32–50) | Detroit (27–55) | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Chicago* (62–20) | Indiana* (37–45) | Milwaukee (35–47) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (19–63) | — | — | — |
| 2011–12[b] | Chicago* (50–16) | Indiana* (42–24) | Milwaukee (31–35) | Detroit (25–41) | Cleveland (21–45) | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Indiana* (49–32) |
Chicago* (45–37) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Detroit (29–53) | Cleveland (24–58) | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Indiana* (56–26) | Chicago* (48–34) | Cleveland (33–49) | Detroit (29–53) | Milwaukee (15–67) | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland+ (53–29) | Chicago* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Indiana (38–44) | Detroit (32–50) | — | — | — |
Rivalries
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Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers
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Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
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1949–50 season
Before the 1949–50 season, the BAA merged with the NBL and was renamed NBA. The number of teams competed increased from 12 teams to 17 teams and the league realigned itself to three divisions, creating the Central Division. The division consisted of five teams, the Chicago Stags, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Rochester Royals and the St. Louis Bombers. All five teams joined from the Western Division. The Minneapolis Lakers won the Central Division title. The division was disbanded before the 1950–51 season, after 6 teams folded and the league realigned itself back into two divisions. The Stags and the Bombers folded, while the other three teams returned to the Western Division.
| ^ | Denotes team that won the NBA championships |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | ||||
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| 1949–50 | Minneapolis^ (51–17) | Rochester* (51–17) | Fort Wayne* (40–28) | Chicago* (40–28) | St. Louis (26–42) | |||
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Notes
- a 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[2]
- b 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[3]
- In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, the NBA canceled the April 16 game scheduled in Boston between the Celtics and the Pacers; the game was not rescheduled because it would have had no impact on either team's playoff seedings.[4]
References
- General
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- Specific
External links
| Eastern Conference |
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| Western Conference |
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| Annual events | |||||||
| History |
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| People | |||||||
| Awards and honors |
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| Others | |||||||
- National Basketball Association divisions
- Sports in the Eastern United States
- Sports in the Midwestern United States
- Atlanta Hawks
- Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)
- Capital Bullets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cincinnati Royals
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New Orleans Hornets
- New Orleans Jazz (NBA team)
- Orlando Magic
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Bullets
